Journal article
Otolaryngology Needs in a Free Clinic Providing Indigent Care
The Laryngoscope, v 126(6), pp 1321-1326
01 Jun 2016
PMID: 26227077
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine the otolaryngology needs in a free clinic providing care to medically indigent patients, as perceived by the patients and health care providers.
Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.
Methods: A survey was administered to patients and health care providers of a free clinic from September 2014 through January 2015 in an urban, inner-city location.
Results: One hundred and thirty-seven patients (35.8% male, age 50.8 +/- 13.0 years) completed the survey. Mean household income was $29,8386 +/- 10,425; 32.1% spoke English; 54.7% were employed; 10.2% had health insurance; and 37.2% had seen a primary care provider outside of the free clinic. The top three otolaryngology symptoms among patients were sleep apnea/snoring (39.4%), heartburn/reflux (30.7%), and dizziness (29.9%). Eleven health care providers (45% male, age 50.5 +/- 15.3 years, 63.6% physician, 36% nurse) completed the survey. Providers perceived the following otolaryngology complaints as the most prevalent, in descending order: cough, nasal congestion, reflux/heartburn, sore throat, and ear infection/otalgia. Providers felt that sleep apnea and hearing loss were the less common otolaryngology complaints, whereas surveyed patients indicated these symptoms with high frequency. The most requested diagnostic tool among patients and providers was chest X-rays.
Conclusion: There are unmet otolaryngology needs in a free clinic. Medically indigent patients have significant barriers to accessing health care. Patient and provider perceptions of top otolaryngology complaints differed, but both identified access to chest X-rays as a major unmet need. Knowledge of patient perceptions may help providers elicit the breadth of otolaryngology complaints.
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Details
- Title
- Otolaryngology Needs in a Free Clinic Providing Indigent Care
- Creators
- Amanda Hu - Drexel UniversityThomas Sibert - Drexel UniversityWei Zhao - University of PennsylvaniaVincent Zarro - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- The Laryngoscope, v 126(6), pp 1321-1326
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 6
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]; Otolaryngology (and Head and Neck Surgery)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000379980200021
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84969210984
- Other Identifier
- 991019168284104721
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InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Medicine, Research & Experimental
- Otorhinolaryngology